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March 5, 2025 Fatality - Fatality Alert

Accident Report: Fatality Reference

MINE FATALITY – On March 5, 2025, a miner died while clearing strips of old belt rubber from a belt conveyor tail roller.  During this process, the belt conveyor started to operate, causing the miner to become entangled in between the fluted tail roller and the belt.

Accident scene where a miner died while clearing strips of old belt rubber from a belt conveyor tail roller.

Best Practices

  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block belt conveyors against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Provide safe access where miners work.
  • Install adequate guarding to prevent any contact between miners and moving parts of a belt conveyor, including rollers and head and tail areas.
  • Establish policies and procedures for conducting maintenance on belt conveyors.
  • Task train miners on safe work practices.

Additional Information

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2025, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”